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Unemployment calculator  →  Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Unemployment Calculator (2026)

Pennsylvania pays $68 to $605 per week in 2026, plus a small dependents allowance of up to $8. One catch most people miss: every payment is currently reduced by 3.2% under a trust-fund solvency law, so the real-world maximum is about $585 per week. Benefits last 18 to 26 weeks.

Data verified 2026-07-04Source: US DOL + state statuteEffective 2026-01-01
Weekly benefit range
$68 – $605
Duration
18–26 weeks
Formula
≈ 98% × (highest quarter ÷ 25 + $2)
Apply with
PA Dept. of Labor & Industry official
The actual rule

How Pennsylvania calculates it

Your Pennsylvania weekly rate comes from a statutory table that works out to about 1/25 of your highest-earning quarter, plus $2, then multiplied by 98%. A $10,000 top quarter pays a $393 weekly rate. Top quarters of $15,388 and up reach the $605 maximum, which is unchanged for 2026.

Two adjustments follow. First, dependents: add $5 per week for your first dependent and $3 for a second — up to $8, which pushes the top rate to $613 on paper. Second, the one that surprises people: since 2023, every payment is cut 3.2% by a trust-fund solvency trigger. A nominal $605 rate actually lands at about $585 per week. This is separate from the 2% already built into the table.

Duration works differently in Pennsylvania. Your total benefit equals your weekly rate times your 'credit weeks' — base period weeks in which you actually worked and earned enough — up to 26. You need at least 18 credit weeks to qualify, so payouts run 18 to 26 weeks.

≈ 98% × (highest quarter ÷ 25 + $2), clamped to $68 – $605
Source: US DOL “Significant Provisions of State UI Laws” (Jan 2026) + state statute · verified 2026-07-04

Payment note: Actual payments are further reduced 3.2% by the trust-fund solvency trigger (Section 404.2, in effect since 2023) — nominal max $605 pays ~$585/week. Show this on the PA page; it is separate from the 2% built into the table.

Dependents: $5 for 1st dependent, $3 for 2nd

Qualifying

Do you qualify in Pennsylvania?

The wage test has four parts: at least $1,688 in your highest quarter, at least $2,718 in total base period wages, at least 37% of your base period wages earned outside your highest quarter (you can't qualify on one big quarter alone), and at least 18 credit weeks in the base period.

You also must be out of work through no fault of your own, able and available to work, and actively searching. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry decides every claim.

Maximum total benefit: Actual number of credit weeks in BP x WBA.

Common questions

Pennsylvania unemployment, in plain language

How much unemployment will I get in Pennsylvania? +
The 2026 weekly rate runs from $68 to $605, plus up to $8 for dependents. But a 3.2% solvency reduction applies to all payments, so the actual maximum deposit is about $585 per week.
How long does unemployment last in Pennsylvania? +
18 to 26 weeks. Your total benefit is your weekly rate times the number of credit weeks you worked in the base period, capped at 26. Since qualifying requires at least 18 credit weeks, 18 weeks is the floor.
How is the Pennsylvania weekly benefit calculated? +
From a statutory table that's roughly 1/25 of your highest-earning quarter, plus $2, times 98% — for example, a $10,000 top quarter gives a $393 rate. The result is bounded by $68 and $605, before the dependents allowance and the 3.2% reduction.
Why is my Pennsylvania payment about 3% less than my benefit rate? +
Pennsylvania has cut all benefit payments by 3.2% since 2023 under a trust-fund solvency trigger. Your official weekly rate stays the same on paper; the deposit is what's reduced. A $605 rate pays about $585.
Does Pennsylvania pay extra for dependents? +
Yes, a little: $5 per week for your first dependent and $3 for a second, for a maximum of $8 per week on top of your rate.
Can I work part-time while on unemployment in Pennsylvania? +
Yes. Pennsylvania disregards the greater of $21 or 30% of your weekly rate; earnings above that reduce your payment for the week. Report all work and earnings.
What do I need to qualify for unemployment in Pennsylvania? +
At least $1,688 in your highest quarter, $2,718 in total base period wages, at least 37% of your wages earned outside your highest quarter, and at least 18 credit weeks. Plus the standard rules: laid off through no fault of your own, able to work, and actively looking.
Is Pennsylvania unemployment taxable? +
Yes, on your federal return. You can request 10% federal withholding with Form W-4V. State tax treatment varies — check current Pennsylvania rules or ask a tax professional.
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